Hibiscus plant named ‘Multi Tropic Cherise’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Multi Tropic Cherise’, characterized by its upright, uniformly mounding and bushy plant habit; shiny dark green-colored leaves; uniform, continuous and freely flowering habit; red purple-colored flowers with dark red-colored centers; and good flower longevity.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MULTI TROPIC CHERISE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscusplant, botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Multi Tropic Cherise’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Sabro, Denmark. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new compact, uniform, strong andfreely-branching Hibiscus plants with continuous flowering andattractive long-lasting flowers.

The new Hibiscus plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted bythe Inventor in October, 2006 in Sabro, Denmark of Hibiscusrosa-sinensis ‘Camaro Wind’, not patented, as the female, or seed,parent with a proprietary selection of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis identifiedas code number 2006-0001, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent.The new Hibiscus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as aflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Sabro, Denmark in August, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Sabro, Denmark sinceOctober, 2007 has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscusplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Multi Tropic Cherise’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Multi Tropic Cherise’ as anew and distinct Hibiscus plant:

-   -   1. Upright, uniformly mounding and bushy plant habit.    -   2. Shiny dark green-colored leaves.    -   3. Uniform, continuous and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Red purple-colored flowers with dark red-colored centers.    -   5. Good flower longevity.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, ‘Camaro Wind’. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily fromplants of ‘Camaro Wind’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus have flatter flowers than plants        of ‘Camaro Wind’.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Camaro Wind’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘Camaro Wind’ have red-colored flowers.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus are longer-lasting than        flowers of plants of ‘Camaro Wind’.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants ofthe male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus have smaller flowers than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have pink-colored flowers.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus are not as long-lasting        as flowers of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscusrosa-sinensis ‘Adonis’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,592. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Sabro, Denmark, plants of the newHibiscus differed from plants of ‘Adonis’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Adonis’ differed in leaf        shape.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Adonis’ differed in flower        color as plants of ‘Adonis’ had dark pink-colored flowers.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus were not as        long-lasting as flowers of plants of ‘Adonis’.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscusrosa-sinensis ‘Juno’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser.No. 13/694,674. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Sabro, Denmark,plants of the new Hibiscus differed from plants of ‘Juno’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Juno’ differed in leaf shape.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus had smaller flowers than plants of        ‘Juno’.    -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Juno’ differed in flower        color as plants of ‘Juno’ had lighter red purple-colored        flowers.    -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus were not as        long-lasting as flowers of plants of ‘Juno’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Hibiscus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Hibiscus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Multi Tropic Cherise’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typicaldeveloping flower buds and a typical open flower of ‘Multi TropicCherise’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the autumn and winter in 13-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Sabro, Denmark and undercultural practices typical of commercial Hibiscus production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C.,night temperatures ranged from 19° C. to 21° C. and light levels rangedfrom 40 to 50 klux. Plants were pinched one time about nine to ten weeksafter planting. Plants were 28 weeks old when the photographs and thedescription were taken. In the description, color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Multi Tropic    Cherise’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Camaro            Wind’, not patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus            rosa-sinensis identified as code number GB 2006-0001, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four weeks at            temperatures about 24° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About five weeks at            temperatures about 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About nine            weeks at temperatures about 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About ten            weeks at temperatures about 24° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy; color, close            to 158A.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright, uniformly mounding and            bushy plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with usually about            four to six lateral branches developing per plant; pinching            enhances lateral branch development.        -   Plant height.—About 35 cm to 55 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 30 cm to 50 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 15 cm to 25 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3 mm to 7 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1 cm to 5 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; with development, becoming woody.        -   Color, developing.—Close to 146A.        -   Color, developed.—Close to N199A and 200A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous.        -   Length.—About 9 cm to 11 cm.        -   Width.—About 8 cm to 10 cm.        -   Shape.—Broadly ovate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate to cuspidate.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Towards the apex, irregularly serrate; towards the            base, entire.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; venation,            recessed.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Slightly pubescent; venation,            prominent.        -   Luster, upper surface.—Very glossy.        -   Luster, lower surface.—Glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A and            147A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A to            146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A;            venation, close to 146A. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 146A and 147A; venation, close to 146B to            146C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 4 cm to 6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper            surface: Close to 147A. Color, lower surface: Close to 146A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Flowers arranged singly at terminal leaf            axils; uniform, continuous and freely flowering habit with            numerous flower buds and open flowers per plant at one time;            flowers face mostly upright to slightly outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower in the garden during            the spring and summer or during periods of warm weather; in            the greenhouse, plants can be flowered year-round; plants            begin flowering about 10 to 18 weeks after pinching.        -   Flower longevity.—Good flower longevity, flowers last about            two days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 13 cm to 15 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 7 cm to 9 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 6 cm to 8 cm. Diameter: About 2            cm to 3 cm. Shape: Ovate to elliptical. Color: Close to 59A.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Five imbricate petals in a single            whorl. Length: About 8 cm. Width: About 6 cm. Shape:            Fan-shaped. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire,            slightly undulate. Texture, upper surface: Glabrous, rugose;            venation, slightly prominent. Texture, lower surface:            Glabrous, rugose; venation, prominent. Luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Matte. Color: When opening, upper surface:            Close to 59B; towards the base, close to 53A. When opening,            lower surface: Close to 59A. Fully opened, upper surface:            Close to 59C; towards the base, close to 53A; venation,            close to N59C; with development, main color becoming closer            to 59B. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 60A; venation,            close to 60B; color does not change with development.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a            campanulate-shaped calyx. Length: About 2.5 cm to 3 cm.            Width: About 1 cm to 1.3 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:            Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Rugose,            pubescent; venation, prominent. Texture, lower surface:            Slightly pubescent; venation, recessed. Luster, upper            surface: Matte. Luster, lower surface: Slightly glossy.            Color, upper surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower surface:            Close to 143C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4 cm to 5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm            to 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Sparsely pubescent.            Color: Close to 146A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,            about 100. Staminal column length: About 7 cm. Staminal            column color: Towards the base, close to 53A; mid-section,            close to 60A; and towards the apex, close to 60B. Filament            length: About 2.5 mm to 3 mm. Filament color: Close to 60B.            Anther shape: Ovate, rounded. Anther length: About 1 mm to            2 mm. Anther color: Close to 19A. Amount of pollen:            Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 17B. Gynoecium: Pistil            length (including staminal column): About 8 cm to 9 cm.            Style texture: Smooth, waxy. Style color: Close to 11D.            Stigma appearance: Five-parted, rounded. Stigma color: Close            to 58B. Ovary color: Close to 145A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Hibiscus.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed    to have tolerate temperatures from about 1° C. to about 30° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hibiscus    plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Multi TropicCherise’ as illustrated and described.